BRING IT ON: Griffith-raised cyclist Michael Rogers will be Australia’s only hope in the individual time trial after Cadel Evans pulled out citing fatigue.
AUSTRALIAN cycling star Michael Rogers has only one race to go but he wants two Olympics medals – one from London and one from eight years ago.
Cadel Evans’ withdrawal means the Griffith-raised Rogers will be the only Australian entrant in today’s men’s individual time trial, where he will be hoping to replicate his form when he was world time trial champion from 2003 to 2005.
The time trial specialist is a potential medal contender, although Tour de France winner Brad Wiggins, Swiss ace Fabian Cancellara – if he races – and German Tony Martin are the favourites.
But there’s another medal Rogers also wants to collect and time is fast running out for him to get a retrospective bronze medal from the Athens Olympics.
According to his Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) profile, Rogers finished fourth in the time trial at the 2004 Athens Games.
But winner Tyler Hamilton admitted last year he had repeatedly used drugs and the American has returned his gold medal to the US Anti-Doping Agency.
There is an eight-year statute of limitations for the International Olympic Committee to officially change the placings to promote Rogers to bronze and the deadline is next month.
“I’ve heard on the grapevine that in some of their (AOC) presentations they’re counting that medal,” Rogers said.
“But I haven’t received any notification.
“I haven’t pushed it, but ultimately I would like that medal.”
An AOC spokesman said the body is confident the medals will be reassigned officially.
“It will happen, it is just a matter of when,” the official said.
Russian Viatcheslav Ekimov officially won silver in the Athens time trial and American Bobby Julich was third.
Julich now works at the British Sky team, where Rogers is one of their key riders.
“I’m always asking him to give me my medal,” Rogers
said.
“He tells me he won’t give it to me until he gets his silver.”
Rogers is cautiously confident about his chances in Wednesday’s 44km race at Hampton Court outside London.
Cancellara, the defending Olympic champion, will delay his decision on whether to start until late after he crashed in Saturday’s road race and bruised an arm.
“I really see Bradley, Tony and Fabian as a step above everyone,” Rogers said.
“I can be around the mark, but what position is really hard to predict.”